Paint pail bracket



Dec. 12, 1967 R. E. CARREL PAINT PAIL BRACKET Filed Oct. 22, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilice 3,357,668. Patented Dec. 12, 1967 3,357,668 PAINT PAIL BRACKET Ralph E. Carrel, 3613 Frontier Drive, Richmond, Va. 23225 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,887 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-410) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is for a unique type of support for a bucket of paint or the like and associated brush that are attached to a ladder or any other suitable means for supporting the same; there being a carrying handle and a unique hook means which is adjustably mounted in respect to the support, whereby the support may be used with different structures.

The present invention relates to new and novel support means, and more particularly to support means which is adapted to be readily mounted upon a ladder or the like.

The support means of the present invention is particularly adapted for use by painters, electricians, plumbers and the like wherein it is desired to support certain elements at different points along the ladder. The present invention is especially adapted for use for supporting a paint bucket and a brush on one of the side stringers of a ladder.

As a painter moves up and down a ladder, during a painting operation, it is desirable to have a support means which can be easily handled and which may be readily mounted in position without an excessive amount of effort, and further which can be moved or removed with facility when required. The present invention provides an arrangement wherein the apparatus automatically locks in place on a ladder stringer under the influence of gravity, and the greater the load applied to the apparatus, the greater the clamping force which tends to hold the apparatus in operative position.

No tools are required for mounting the apparatus of the present invention in operative position, and it can be easily slipped into place or removed with one hand.

The apparatus of the present invention also includes an arrangement whereby the hook means which engages one side of a ladder stringer may be adjusted with respect to the body portion which engages the opposite side of a ladder stringer so that the apparatus can be readily employed with ladders of different size or design.

The support means of the present invention is .also specially constructed so that a paint bucket will be very firmly supported thereby, and further wherein a paint brush is supported in such position that the bristles thereof are disposed over the open upper end of the paint bucket so that any paint which may drip from the brush will drop into the bucket.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a handle means which is readily accessible for grasping by a painter on the ladder, and which at the same time is so mounted as to pivot out of the way when the apparatus is being used during a painting operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel support means especially adapted for use with a ladder and to support a paint bucket and brush.

Another object of the invention is the provision of support means which automatically locks in place on a ladder by gravity so as to actually increase the clamping force ,as the load increases thereon, and further wherein no tools are required for mounting or dismounting the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide support means which is adjustable for use with different ladders and which is adapted to hold a paint bucket firmly supported thereon and a brush in position thereover so that any paint dripping from the brush will drop into the bucket.

A further object of the invention is the provision of support means including a handle which is readily accessible and which is adapted to pivot out of the way when the apparatus is in use during a painting operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide support means which is quite simple and inexpensive in construction and yet which at the same time is quite ellicient and reliable in use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention illustrated as mounted in operative position upon the stringer of a ladder;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is .a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the support means of the present invention includes an elongated body portion of channel-shaped cross sectional configuration, this body portion being formed of a rigid material such as steel or the like. The body portion includes a lower portion 22, an intermediate portion 24 and an upper portion 26. The lower and upper portions 22 and 26 extend angularly from the intermediate portion 24, portions 22 and 26 each extending at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the intermediate portion, and the lower and upper portions 22 and 26 further being disposed so that they are substantially parallel with one another.

The lower end 28 of the lower portion 22 is adapted to engage a stringer of a ladder or the like as illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 1, and this lower end 28 may be provided with a V-shaped cutout portion 30 as seen in FIG. 2. As seen most clearly in- FIG. 1, one leg portion of the channe1-shaped lower portion 22 is provided with a plurality of holes 34 shown as being five in number, and the opposite leg portion is provided with a plurality of aligned holes 36.

A hook means indicated generally by reference numeral 40 is provided for fitting about and engaging the ladder stringer or the like, and as seen most clearly in FIG. 4, hook means 40 includes a first portion 42 which extends through a pair of aligned openings 34 and 36 provided in the lower body portion 22. The outer end of portion 4-2 of the hook means is provided with suitable threads and is adapted to receive a wing nut 44 which may be tightened to lock the hook means in adjusted position on the body portion.

The portion 42 of the hook means joins with an integral normally extending portion 46 which in turn joins with a further integral portion 48 which extends normally thereto. Portion 42 is formed integral with a further normally extending portion 50 which in turn joins with an integral portion 52 extending at right angles to portion 56. Portion 52 terminates in a laterally extending portion 54 which is disposed at substantially right angles to portion 52. As seen in FIG. 4, the ladder stringer is indicated by phantom line 56, and it will be noted that portions 48, 50, 52 and 54 are adapted to fit about various portions of the ladder stringer whereby the hook means is adapted to engage the inner surface of the ladder stringer and to cooperate with the interconnected body portion for clamping the ladder stringer therebetween as will become apparent from the following description.

It will be noted that the hook means 40 is pivotally interconnected with the lower portion 22 of the body portion, and that the hook means may be moved into any adjusted position and then locked in such position by the wing nut 44. The various holes 34 and 36 permit the hook means to be moved into different positions along the lower body portion so as to accommodate different sizes and constructions of ladder stringers and the like. The hook means will be moved into a suitable pair of holes so that when the apparatus is disposed in the operative position as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate portion 24 of the body portion will be disposed substantially vertically.

The intermediate body portion 64 is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with an integral offset portion 60 which is adapted to receive and support a bail 62 of a paint bucket 64 as indicated in phantom lines. It will be noted that when the paint bucket is supported in the operative position shown in FIG. 1 the paint bucket is firmly supported by a substantial amount of the intermediate portion 24 which engages the outer wall of the paint bucket, and furthermore the paint bucket is supported in a generally vertical position. It is evident that the paint bucket will be very stable and that there is no possibility that it can be tipped over with the interengagement as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A bracket member indicated generally by reference numeral 65 is secured to the upper channel-shaped portion 26 of the body portion, this bracket member including a back wall 66 having a pair of side walls 67 extending normally from opposite edges thereof to provide a generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration which fits snugly within the channel-shaped upper portion 26. The bracket member is held in place by means of a nut and bolt assembly 68 which extends through aligned holes provided in the opposite legs of the channel-shaped upper portion 26 and the leg portion 67 of the bracket 66. The bracket member also includes an upper wall portion 69 formed integral with the upper edge of the back wall 66 and extending normally therefrom.

A support means indicated generally by reference numeral 70 comprises an integral member formed of resilient spring steel or the like and including a substantially fiat base portion 72 which is secured to the upper wall 69 of bracket 65 by means of a nut and bolt assembly 74. The support means includes a pair of upwardly inwardly curving arms 76 and 78 which in turn join with downwardly and inwardly extending arms 80 and 82 respectively which are in facing relationship to one another. These facing portions 80 and 82 are adapted to resiliently clamp the handle of a paint brush indicated by phantom line 86 in FIG. 1 therebetween, and it will be noted as seen in FIG. 1 that when the paint brush is supported by the support means, it will be disposed in such a position that the bristles of the brush are in overlying relationship to the open upper end of the paint bucket. Accordingly, any paint which may drip downwardly from the brush will drop into the bucket. It is apparent that the paint brush may be readily inserted into or removed from operative clamping relationship with the support means.

A handle means is indicated generally by reference numeral 90, this handle means being formed of a rigid material such as steel or the like and having a generally channel-shaped cross sectional configuration. The handle means is curved and includes a substantially straight upper portion 92 which can be manually gripped. The lower end of the handle means is pivotally interconnected with the upper end of the body portion by a nut and bolt assembly 94 which extends through aligned holes provided in the upper portion 26, the back wall 66 of bracket member 65, and the opposite legs of the handle means. A cutout portion 96 is provided in the web of the channel-shaped handle means as seen in FIG. 2 to provide adequate clearance for moving the handle means into the full line operative position shown in FIG. 2 for lifting the apparatus. The handle means may also be pivoted into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2 so as to be out of the way and to permit a brush to be readily placed within the support means 70.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein a body portion 20 is provided which corresponds to the body portion 20 illustrated in FIGS. l-4. The lower portion 22 of body portion 20' is identical with the lower portion 22 of the previously described modification, and the hook means 40' and the wing nut 44' are identical with members 40 and 44 previously described. It is accordingly apparent that the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 is adapted to be supported in the same manner on a stringer of a ladder or the like as the first-described modification.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the upper portion of the body portion is modified so as to provide a support bracket 102 which is held in place by nut and bolt assembly 104. It should be understood that the upper portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 may be substantially identical with that shown in the previous figures if so desired, and in any event, the upper portion of the body portion is so constructed as to support a laterally extended support rod 106 which is pivotally mounted at the upper end of the body portion. A pocketed tool support means indicated generally by reference numeral 108 includes a plurality of upwardly extending loop portions 110 which may be slipped over rod 106 for retaining the tool support means in operative position thereon.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention new and novel support means which is especially adapted for use with a ladder and the like and to support a paint bucket and brush. The support means automatically locks in place on a ladder stringer under the influence of gravity, and the greater the load thereon, the greater the clamping force on the ladder stringer. No tools are required for mounting the apparatus in operative position or removing it therefrom. The support means is so constructed that a paint bucket supported thereby will be firmly supported in position and a paint brush supported thereby will be disposed in such position as to be in overlying relationship to the open upper end of the paint bucket so that when paint drips from the brush, it will drop into the bucket. Means is provided for adjusting the support means for use with diiferent size and design ladders. The handle means is readily accessible for lifting the support means and moving it as required, and at the same time the handle means may be readily pivoted from the lifting or carrying position so that it will not interfere with a normal painting operation and so that the brush can be readily moved into operative clamped relationship in the support means. The apparatus is quite simple and inexpensive in construction and yet at the same time is quite efiicient and reliable in use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A support means comprising an elongated rigid body portion having a lower end adapted to engage a ladder or the like, said body portion including an upper end, support means at the upper end of said body portion, hook means adjustably mounted with respect to said body p rtion so that the support means may be used with different structures, said hook means defining a hook portion to receive a part of a ladder or the like, and said hook means being pivotally interconnected with said body portion adjacent the lower end thereof.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for locking said hook means in adjusted position with respect to said body portion.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes an intermediate portion extending angularly from the lower portion of the body portion, said intermediate portion being adapted to be disposed vertically during use, said body portion being of channelshaped cross sectional configuration.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes an integral ofiset portion extending laterally therefrom and positioned a substantial distance above the point of pivotal interconnection between said hook means and said body portion whereby the hail of a paint bucket or the like is adapted to be received within said offset portion, and the paint bucket or the like is adapted to engage said body portion.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the support means mounted at the upper end of said body portion comprises a pair of resilient portions adapted to grip and hold a paint brush in position over a paint bucket supported by the support means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a handle portion pivotally interconnected with the upper end of said body portion.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the body portion is of channel-shaped cross sectional configuration and includes a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion, said lower portion and said upper portion extending angularly from said intermediate portion, said lower portion including a plurality of holes formed therein, said hook means being adapted to be positioned within different ones of said holes for adjusting the position of said hook means with respect to said body portion, said intermediate portion including an integral offset portion extending to one side of said intermediate portion and adapted to receive the bail of a paint bucket whereby a paint bucket is supported by said integral offset portion and engages the opposite side of said intermediate portion, said support means at the upper end of said body portion including a pair of resilient members disposed in facing relationship to clamp a paint brush therebetween to suspend the paint brush in operative position over a paint bucket supported by the support means, and a handle portion pivotally interconnected with the upper end of said support means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises an elongated rod-like member, and a compartmented tool support means suspended from said rod-like member, said rod-like member being pivotally interconnected with the upper end of said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,301 10/1921 Hayes 2482l1 1,808,647 6/1931 Fazekas 248-211 2,873,937 2/1959 Oldenburg 248-211 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RIGID BODY PORTION HAVING A LOWER END ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A LADDER OR THE LIKE, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING AN UPPER END, SUPPORT MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID BODY PORTION, HOOK MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY PORTION SO THAT THE SUPPORT MEANS MAY USED WITH DIFFERENT STRUCTURES, SAID HOOK MEANS DEFINING A HOOK PORTION TO RECEIVE A PART OF A LADDER OR THE LIKE, AND SAID HOOK MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF. 